Balance your checkbook as often as possible

If you’re not ready to make the move to online banking, you should definitely make sure to balance your checkbook every month, as it can save you from a potentially devastating bounced check or overdraft fee.

Those bank fees can be $30 for each occurrence and really pile up which adds to your problem when funds are low in your account.

It’s really quite simple; just make sure the statement your bank provides matches your own records. Find a point where you’re sure both are right and work forward from there, making sure each payment is accounted for by both you and by the bank.

As long as your records and the bank’s records stay in alignment, you can be much more confident that you won’t “accidentally” overdraft.

Source: 365 Ways to Live Cheap